CO129-444 - Governor Sir May & Acting Governor Claud Severn - 1917 [10-12] — Page 222

about the Rleg. Bept.

the subordinates of dept. ou left

that

Apparently

Cvenue.

стой селец из

aye

મ

I latte it

the deept.

produers

creditoto

in wh. subordinate offices ham unempl

chances of grand

Are you satisfied

of

care

at hart gevourition?

med out inquie

deph

further about that kept ?

Mr. Grindle

5.1.15 G

In the last p. but one of the Raport the

Board say that the extravagance revealed in the Rail.

way Dept. calls for further investigation, and I

trust it will not call in vain. Subordinate

officers in that Dept. may have unusual chance 3

of fraud or favouritism, but these ought not to

lead them into debt, rather the contrary, though the officers might

There would be rb hara in asking what is to

be done about the Rly. Dept.

AEC

5.1 18

of course be tempted to pay in this way' debts incurred through extra- vagance.

In speaking of a thoroughly bad state of af-

Mr. Beckett

fairs in the Rly. Dept. should have alluded

rather to extravaganoe than indebtedness. I think.

Arc

Then ask what is to be down

about this RS depi

887.1.18

Ne 360.

Sir,

Gers

I

28656

REC

C.O

498

PER JAN 18

218

GOVERNMENT HOUSE,

HONGKONG. 14th. November, 1917.

With reference to previous correspondence ending with your Despatch No. 117 of the 13th. June, 1917, I have the honour to enclose a copy of the report of the Board appointed by Sir F. H. May to make advances to subordinate Government Officers to pay off their debts.

2.

Sir F. H. May authorised an increase of the

sum required for this purpose from $10,000, as approved by you, to £15,000. The sum of £10,000 was a rough estimate based on the applications received in reply to the Circular issued in 1915, but many new applications were received later as recorded in the third paragraph of the report, and it was desirable to

deal with them.

3.

The attention of the officers who have

received advances has been draw to General Order 60, and Messrs. Bowen and Costa have been specially warned that if they again get into debt the consequences will be serious,

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

HE RIGHT HONOURABLE

WALTER LONG, M.P.,

c..

&c.,

&c...

Your most obedient,

humble servant,

Haud Seven

Officer Administering the Government.